PH buying guide: Maserati 3200 GT
The first of the 'modern' Maseratis, but is it a secondhand Latin nightmare or a used Italian hero?
With this in mind, and with 3200 GT prices now apparently bottomed out at around £8,000, we reckon it's time to look into owning this first of the modern-era Maseratis. For £8,000, you'll be looking at a 3200 GT that's possibly had a harder life than most and with higher miles, but for a little more outlay you can bag a good one from around £12,000, while the Assetto Corsa starts at £20,000.
Search for Maserati 3200 GTs here
Introduced in 1998, the GT comes with a twin-turbo 3.2-litre V8 engine putting out 370bhp. It was enough for 174mph flat out and 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds for the six-speed manual version that cost from £60,575. Launched alongside the manual was a four-speed automatic version called, appropriately, the Automatica with a four-speed self-shifter for 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds and 168mph top-end.
The Assetto Corsa model was limited to a production run of 250, with 75 destined for the UK. It enjoyed lower, firmer suspension with intelligent electronic damping, plus various other tweaks to make it the best 3200 GT from a keen driver's perspective. The V8 engine remained unchanged for the Assetto Corsa, which means identical performance figures for the manuals that came to the UK, plus the automatic gearbox-equipped models sold elsewhere in the world.
When production of the 3200 GT, with its distinctive 'boomerang' rear lights, ended in 2002, Maserati has sold a total of 4,795 GTs of all types worldwide.
Owner's view:
The 3200 GT is a car that I still can't get my head around properly. The owning experience is firmly split in two halves: owning it and keeping it going. Generally servicing and repairs is only a small part of owning a car, but over the years of ownership it has become such a prevalent part of the GT experience that it deserves at least 50 per cent of your attention.
Costas Kalaitzakis
Buying Guide contents
Introduction
Powertrain
Rolling chassis
Body
Interior
Search for Maserati 3200 GTs here
O/T - The Citroen C3 we have at the monent has a similar light arrangement at the moment.
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Are you sure it wasnt the silver cat c (or d?) one at £12895? Poor quality reair - been around for ages.
There are always cheap cars available, but they can be money pits. A decent, standard 3200 starts at £11-12k.
Obviously that perception is held by the public and the trade as even 5 years ago before the credit crunch you could pick these up under £15k
Also they don't look that fast on paper any more compared to the likes of the 335i but that might feel different in the driver's seat
I'm sure many people love them & have had a super experience though
As for driving, the 0-60 of 5.0 sounds sensible, but once this thing is on boost it really flies, treat with respect in the wet.
This car deserves a special place in Maserati history, it may not be perfect but it restored Maserati to international prominence, and sold in numbers.
Are you sure it wasnt the silver cat c (or d?) one at £12895? Poor quality reair - been around for ages.
There are always cheap cars available, but they can be money pits. A decent, standard 3200 starts at £11-12k.
I know I have even seen rough 3200 for £6,700 before but I saw a good looking one (to me) for £9,000 but the majority are £12,000+. I am no expert though, and I did/have not seen any.
The Corsa did not state it had been in an accident. It is sold now anyway.
Links on the way to being fixed...
ETA: Links go to the proper places now..
I can vouch for the fact they're not the only car capable of wreaking that sort of havoc on your wallet. Similarly, I don't doubt that it was a rather unlucky example (and probably all the better for it once the work had been done). But half the value of the car spent on work in 12 months was a bit of an eye opener at the time!
I still think they're just gorgeous, but I'd probably be more tempted by the 4200, which I gather is less of a handful.
its done 22,000 miles, fully serviced and immaculate...i paid £16,000! as far as im concerned, its the bargain of the century. you can stick your porches
(although the 3200 and 4200 are quite different though even if they look pretty much the same. 3200 is a 3.2 bi-turbo made by maserati, the 4200 is a 4.2 no turbo made by ferrari. The Ferrari build quality and intelligence really shows.)
(although the 3200 and 4200 are quite different though even if they look pretty much the same. 3200 is a 3.2 bi-turbo made by maserati, the 4200 is a 4.2 no turbo made by ferrari. The Ferrari build quality and intelligence really shows.)
It's only the 4200's V8 that was developed by Ferrari, the rest of the car was built in Modena by Maserati as was the 3200. Ferrari became involved with Maserati in the mid to late 90s, before 3200 production - the Quattroporte V8 Evoluzione and the late Ghibli Coupes were the first cars to have any Ferrari influence on production methods, quality etc. Yes it is true to say there is more Ferrari expertise in the 4200 than the 3200 but they weren't a such built by Ferrari.
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